1973 Honda CR250 Elsinore

This Honda CR250 Elsinore is a first-year model of Honda’s first serious dirt bike. It’s historically significant as it was the first serious dirt bike to come straight from an OEM – other bikes required serious modifications from the factory floor.

This was a bike of many firsts for Honda – their first dirt bike built from scratch, instead of trying to adapt a street bike to the dirt, and it was their first production two-stroke.

Named after offroad racing in Lake Elsinore – the most popular race of the late 60s and early 70s, the popularity of the Honda CR250 soared after a stock example won the AMA 250 national MX series with Gary Jones at the helm. Weighing just 229 pounds, the Elsinore was able to get 29 horsepower out of its 250cc engine. Want to learn more? Check out this writeup from a 1973 issue of Cycle Magazine.

This particular Honda CR250 has recently received a frame off restoration and complete engine rebuild. Extras include PVL ignition, Works Performance shocks, a new DG pipe and new plastics.